Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed his disappointment in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for promoting nepotism in its administration.

Delivering his speech at the maiden National Conference of Ex-MMDCES on Saturday, May 12, 2018, Mr. Mahama stated that the failure of the NPP government to create equal opportunities for all Ghanaians destroys the spirit of oneness.

“One of the things that I feel sad about is a certain tendency that is destroying the spirit of national integration and unity. We might belong to different political parties but we are Ghanaians first and foremost, and the opportunities of this country should open up to all Ghanaians.

“This is why President Mills had the mantra ‘father for all’. It meant that he was president of all Ghanaians and so all Ghanaians should enjoy all opportunities. During our administration, we as much as possible ensured that the opportunities were open to everybody. So NDC businessmen were working, NPP businessmen were working, CPP businessmen were working. Everybody was getting something to do”.

Mr. Mahama asserted that his impartiality “is what created part of the problem for people like me in the party because people didn’t understand why this NPP contractor has this job and I don’t have anything”.

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He admonished the NPP administration for selfishly placing the needs of its members above Ghanaians.

“If we are to build a nation, then we must have that heart to build to accommodate everybody in the economic advancement of our country. But since the NPP came, it is like the proverbial ‘you have to feed your children first before you feed someone’s children’. Who are someone’s children? We are all Ghanaians”, the former President argued.

Akufo-Addo practising nepotism in government

The Akufo-Addo administration has been tagged by members of NDC and PPP as a ‘family and friends’ government. Political critics have also spoken vehemently against certain political appointments by President Akufo-Addo.

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The appointment of Virginia Hesse and Professor Abena Busia, both believed to be ex-lovers of President Akufo-Addo, as Ghana’s Ambassadors to the Czech Republic and Brazil respectively, resulted in backlashes from citizens and political opponents.